Easter
Trip Start
Sep 25, 2007
1
29
Trip End
Ongoing
Teacapan,
Pacific Coast,
Mexico
Friday, April 25, 2008
I'm sorry for the delay but we've been punching the miles out and hitting the hiking trails through the Grand Circle since we crossed back into the States. I' get to that later but will finish the Mexican side of things first.
We hit Teacapan the Saturday before Easter and booked in for a week at Villas Onac, on the beach about 10kms from town and a mile or so from the main road through paddocks of chilies, acres and acres of them. We fished and caught heaps of catfish and different types of Grunter, all the fish here seem to grunt so we call them grunters, striped grunters, spotted grunters etc, the boys caught a giant blowfish each, about 1kg.James also caught a huge sting-ray of the beach.
We had campfires and walks along the beach, did some school work, took a trip to the big town Esquinapa to shop and eat some roadside Pollo and we also went into Teacapan and checked out the other RV park that was recommended to us, the El Pelican.
It was situated a mile or so from town and on the calmer estuary as opposed to the Exposed beach. We already had one day that really blew and were confined to quarters, close ones at that for the whole day
Teacapan sunset
. We were greeted at the gate by Hutch, a friendly Canadian who with his mate Reg had spent the winter there and was building a Casa a couple of doors up. We decided to change camps on Easter Saturday and spend another week closer to town. We had met a nice Canadian couple at the Onac but most of the others seemed a bit aloof. El Pelican was a direct contrast, everyone was so friendly and Emily's little birthday party on Sunday was well attended by our new friends, Mexican and North American alike.
We launched the boat and explored the Estuary and fished a few days as well. Catfish, catfish, catfish, dozens of them all thrown back until Phil hooked a whopper Yellowtail grunter off the rocks in front of the campground. Dad caught one and eventually James did to so we had a couple of nice fish BBQs. James and Phillip made friends with a guy named Taylor from Canada who was into kites and they all flew the kites. We had a great week here and I managed to sneak away one evening with the lads and experience a taste of local hospitality at a genuine Mexican Cantina.
We left early Saturday the 29th March for Culiacan where we camped overnight at a huge water park where for $20 we had a nice grassed area with a palapa that also included entry into the water park. Huge water slides and wave pool along with themed pools and smaller slides for Emily. The kids had a great couple of hours there and we would have hit it again the next day if it had opened early enough
Phil's Yellowtail Grunter
. Dad spoiled the fun and decided to hit the road, otherwise we wouldn't have got away till after lunch. The roads are getting better as we head further North and the toll roads are a dream actually hitting 65 mph most of the way to Los Mochis where we were going to organize a 2 day trip up to the Copper Canyon on the train. We walked miles into town to talk to the travel agents and in the end canned the idea as we couldn't take Larry on the train or to the hotel we would be staying in. Even snuck half in the bag was too risky as 2 long train rides and a night in the hotel was too much to ask of Larry and if we'd been sprung it would leave us stranded Hundreds of Kms from the Motorhome.Bev was getting anxious about the Visa situation going back across the border so we decided to push on.
San Carlos was the next stop a good days drive on good roads all the way. This place was very Gringoized with lots of real Estate agents, Dentists, pharmacys and Galleries.
One night here and off again later the next morning after a walk through town. Our last night in Mexico was spent in Santa Ana at a the Punta Vista RV Park where our hosts Edgar and Anna were so friendly, Edgar was a real character, he used to be in a Mexican rock and roll band and met and married his American wife before a motorcycle accident left him a bit worse for wear. They provided some nice ironwood for our last Mexican BBQ and we sat around and chatted over a Cervesa with a couple of the other guests.
We shot for the border the next morning and along the way exchanged our pesos for $'s and fuelled up at .68 cents a liter before crossing at Lukeville Arizona.
We chose this crossing, as with our entry visa expiring while we were in Mexico and failing to surrender it before we crossed into Mexico we were a little worried about getting back in.
Fellow travelers told us this crossing was smaller and friendlier than the main crossing at Nogales and we had heard a horror story from Canadian friends we met in Teacapan about Nogales Customs. It took about 20 minutes for them to re-issue us another 6 month permit, everyone very friendly and professional and we were Back in the USA. Wide smooth roads, English speaking people and real Beef again.
We had such a great holiday and a lot of wonderful experiences in Mexico but I must say it was good to back in the States.
We'll see you soon,
The McGregors-6.
Comments
Happy Birthday Emily
Happy Birthday Emily, we can't believe you are already 5 - where do the years go??? Your photo's show you having such a wonderful time. We are missing you a lot and can't wait for you all to come home but we enjoy reading all about your fabulous holidays. It is really cold in Victoria at the moment - the rubbish bin lid was frozen shut this morning - so winter has arrived (you wouldn't like it Bev but you know how I love the cold and the heater in my unit if fantastic so it still feels tropical inside)!! Tyler and I had a lovely visit with Uncle Todd, Aunty Kristen, Keely, Lachlan and Hamish last week, they are having a lovely holiday too. Take care, love to you all. Kristen & Tyler xoxo
Happy Birthday Emily
Glad you had a great Birthday Party. You look so pretty. Great Blog as always
Cheers and Hugs
Betty and Ken